Apparatus for rejecting defective metallic sheets



June 1-6, 1942. MUDDIMAN 2,286,686

APPARATUS FOR REJECTING DEFECTIVE METALLIC- SHEETS- Filed Nov. 27, 1939[4544 E. Mummy/v,

Patented June 16, 1942 APPARATUS FOR REJECTING DEFECTIVE METALLIC SHEETSEarl] R. Muddiman, Wilkinsburg, Pa. Application November 2'1, 1939,Serial No. 306,417

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of metallic sheets, and moreparticularly to the rejection of defective sheets after they have beensheared from a length of strip metal.

In the manufacture of strip metal, prior to the shearing thereof intosheets, substantial lengths are joined and the composite strip subjectedto various continuous treating operations. In the joining or connectingtogether of the ends of several strips (after which the continuouslength may be directed through pickling and washing tanks, reducingmills, annealing steps, tempering mills, etc.) the actual joint orconnection is usually performed by either mechanical stitching 'orelectrical welding.

After the continuously treated strip has been sheared into sheets, thosesheets which embody the marks made by the mechanical stitcher orelectrical welder are found undesirable and, accordingly, should berejected. a This rejection is usually done by manually locating andmarking the stitched or welded portion of the strip after it has beensheared into sheets, and occasions considerable delay.

It is among the objects of the present invention to enable the joiningor connecting of several metallic strips, continuous treatment of thejoined. or connected strips, and the subsequent shearing thereof intosheets, without necessitating the manual location, after shearing intosheets, of those portions of the strips which were part of the joint orconnection.

Another object is the automatic detection an elimination of thoseportions of the strips which were part of the joint or connection.

Still another object is to secure the foregoing disposed an uncoilingreel 5 having, wrapped therearound a coil of metallic strip 1, theleading or advance end of which is to be joined or connected to thetrailing end of the metallic strip 3 which is in the said looper pit.Accordingly,

the leading or advance end of the metallic strip l is fed from theuncoiling reel 6, through pinch rolls 9, and to an electric welder ill(or mechanical stitcher, if desired) of any suitable design. Thetrailing end of the metallic strip 3 extends rearwardly from the looperpit 2 through pinch rolls i2, and into the electric welder generallydesignated at Ill.

According to the teachings of the present invention, thereis disposed oneither'slde of the operating instrumentalities of the electric welderIII (orequivalent joining or connecting device), a punch generallyindicated at M, each of which is constructed and arranged to operate onone of the metallic strips (3 or 1) adjacent the joint or, connection,as will appear more fully hereinafter. I

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that eac of the punches Itcomprises a vertical fluid cylinder. l5 containing a piston H to whichthere is connected a downwardly depending piston rod l8. 0n the lowerend of each of the piston rods l8 there is carried a punch specificallydesignated at 20. By the control of fluid to and fromthe fluid cylinderIS in the manner well known to the art, the punches specificallydesignated at may be made to punch the strips 3 and 'l for a purposewhich will be later described.

Referring to Figure f the drawing, the strips 3 and l are shown as beingconnected by a weld 2|, while the punch marks are designated on eitherside thereof at 22. These punch marks 22 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the remainder ofthe apparatus of the present invention;

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates alooper pit containing a metallicstrip a of substantial length which isbeing fed therefrom in the direction of the arrow by means of pinchrolls 4.

Somewhat adjacent the looper .pit 2 there is are shown as comprisingapertures which are elongated in the direction of the axes of the joinedmetallic strips 3'and l; and this is indicative of a condition whichexists when the strips have been continuously rolled while in joined orconnected state. However, it will be readily understood by those skilledin the art that the purview of the invention is not limited to treatmentwhich comprises rolling after the joint has been effected.

After the joined metallic strips 3 and 1 have been continuously treatedin the desired manner (whether to include rolling or otherwise), the

Y the punch marks 22. It is, therefore, desired to delete from thehorizontal conveyor 28 that portion of the sheared metal of the strip3-! which extended between and included the punch marks 22. For thispurpose there is provided a pivoted deflector 32, which, through a rod33 operated by an adjacent solenoid 34, normally'occupies the plane ofthe horizontal conveyor 28. When deenergized, the solenoid 34 permitsthe pivoted deflector 32 to drop downwardly into the position shown inFigure 4, and thereby permit the feeding of metallic sheets into anadjacentpiler 36 which collects those which are defective.

In order to permit the pivoted deflector 32 to drop at the desiredinterval and therefore separate all sheets embodying the punch marks 22and all portions of the strip 31 which were intermediate thereof, thereis providedthe following:

A light 40 is disposed over the strip 3l prior to its entry into theflying shear 26.. Immediately beneath the light 40 and under the strip3'| there is a photoelectric eye system, generally indicated at 4|,which, by means of suitable circuits 43, is electrically connected tothe solenoid 34 through a time relay 45, The time relay 45 is soadjusted as to cause the deenergization of the solenoid 34 when thosesheets which have been sheared from that portion of the strip 3-1 which,was under the light have had an opportunity to progress to the pivoteddeflector 32.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limitedexactly thereto, since various modifications may be made withoutdeparting fromthe scope of the invention, as defined by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for manufacturing sheets from joined metallic stripscomprising means for 'joined metallic strips having at least one holeadjacent the joint, said apparatus comprising means for detecting saidholes while the strips are in motion, means for shearing the strips intosheets, and means for conveying each sheet to one of a plurality ofseparate discharge points, said last-named means being automaticallycontrolled by the hole-detecting means.

EARLL R. MUDDIMAN.

